Conclave by Robert Harris Summary

Conclave by Robert Harris is a political thriller set during a papal conclave, where 118 cardinals gather at the Vatican to elect a new Pope after the sudden death of the incumbent. The novel follows Cardinal Jacopo Lomeli, Dean of the College of Cardinals, as he oversees the election process while uncovering secrets, scandals, and conspiracies that threaten to influence the outcome. The story combines religious intrigue with high-stakes political maneuvering.

Conclave is ideal for readers who enjoy political thrillers, religious intrigue, and character-driven mysteries. Fans of Robert Harris's historical fiction will appreciate the meticulous detail and suspenseful pacing. The book appeals to anyone interested in Vatican politics, moral dilemmas, and stories exploring power and ambition. Readers who enjoyed books like "The Name of the Rose" or Dan Brown's thrillers will find Conclave equally compelling with its insider perspective on papal elections.

Conclave is widely regarded as a gripping and satisfying page-turner that delivers both intellectual depth and thriller excitement. Harris provides unprecedented access to one of the world's most secretive and fascinating gatherings, creating a VIP seat to the papal election process. The novel balances moral complexity with fast-paced plotting, featuring compelling characters facing genuine ethical dilemmas. Critics praise its riveting storytelling and the way Harris maintains suspense throughout the multi-ballot voting process.

Robert Harris is a bestselling British novelist and former BBC journalist born in 1957. He is best known for historical fiction and thrillers, including "Fatherland" (1992), "Enigma" (1995), "Pompeii" (2003), and the Cicero Trilogy. His novels have sold over 10 million copies and been translated into 30 languages. Several works have been adapted into films, including "The Ghost Writer" (2010) and "Conclave" (2024). Harris lives in Berkshire, England with his wife Gill Hornby and four children.

Cardinal Jacopo Lomeli is the protagonist and Dean of the College of Cardinals in Conclave, responsible for overseeing the papal election. As Dean, Lomeli discovers secrets about the candidates and must repeatedly examine his conscience about whether he's maintaining neutrality or manipulating the outcome. He emerges as a moral center of the novel, wrestling with ethical dilemmas as he uncovers simony, blackmail, and scandals. His character embodies the tension between duty and personal conviction throughout the conclave process.

The four leading papal candidates in Conclave represent different ideological factions within the Church. Cardinal Aldo Bellini of Italy, the late Pope's Secretary of State, represents the liberal wing. Cardinal Joseph Tremblay of Canada, the Camerlengo, appears ambitious and politically savvy. Cardinal Joshua Adeyemi of Nigeria appeals to traditionalists while representing African interests. Cardinal Goffredo Tedesco of Italy is the reactionary Patriarch of Venice. A surprise candidate, Cardinal Benítez, emerges as a mysterious wild card whose background remains largely unknown.

Conclave exposes multiple damaging secrets that reshape the papal election.

• Cardinal Tremblay is revealed to have committed simony by bribing several cardinals with cash payments to secure votes.
• Cardinal Adeyemi's candidacy collapses after exposure of sexual abuse against a nun years earlier.
• Tremblay also orchestrated the nun's transfer to Rome to blackmail Adeyemi.
• The late Pope maintained hidden financial records of the entire Curia and had demanded Tremblay's resignation before his death.

These revelations dramatically shift voting patterns across multiple ballots.

In Conclave, 118 cardinals are sequestered in the Vatican and vote through a series of secret ballots until one candidate receives a two-thirds majority. The cardinals cannot leave or communicate with the outside world during the process, with extensive security measures preventing information leaks. Voting continues across multiple ballots, with candidates' fortunes rising and falling as alliances shift and secrets emerge. The process extends over three days in the novel, with eight total ballots cast before reaching a conclusion.

Cardinal Benítez serves as an enigmatic wild card in Conclave, with little known about his background or beliefs. He was secretly appointed by the late Pope just before his death and arrives unexpectedly at the conclave. As voting progresses, Benítez emerges as a dark horse candidate, eventually gaining significant support. His speech advocating against meeting violence with violence, following terrorist attacks, contrasts sharply with hardliner positions. Benítez challenges Lomeli to vote according to principles rather than compromise, forcing the Dean to confront his own convictions.

Conclave explores power, ambition, and the corrupting influence of both within religious institutions. The novel examines moral compromise versus principled conviction, as characters face difficult choices between pragmatism and integrity. Themes of doubt and certainty emerge through Lomeli's crisis of faith and his homily calling for a Pope capable of doubt. The book also addresses tradition versus reform within the Catholic Church, tolerance versus fundamentalism, and whether the ends justify the means in achieving perceived good outcomes.

During the seventh ballot, a coordinated series of terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists targets Catholic institutions across Europe, with an explosion rocking the Sistine Chapel. Though no cardinals are injured, the attack becomes a decisive moment in the election. Cardinal Tedesco calls for retaliation while Cardinal Benítez argues against meeting violence with violence. This pivotal debate shifts the conclave's direction, as cardinals must decide what kind of leadership the Church needs in response to external threats. The attack accelerates the final voting round.

Simony—the buying or selling of ecclesiastical privileges—becomes the central scandal that destroys Cardinal Tremblay's papal candidacy in Conclave. Lomeli discovers that Tremblay made cash payments to several cardinals as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, essentially buying votes for his election. The late Pope had compiled evidence of this corruption in hidden compartments. When Lomeli distributes the report to all cardinals with names redacted, it kills Tremblay's chances and upends the entire conclave, demonstrating how corruption undermines even sacred processes.